Trip Report A New Hope, A New Day COMPLETED

Captain Barbossa · Jul 2, 2021

Tinkwings said:
THAT is not a normal Club Level room.....I have seen them in videos and they have the woodsy wall behind, and that tiny window? I simply cannot place it..... Ooooooooooh I want to go exploring......
Must be one of the different rooms, the larger units, honeymoon? Interesting.........But I love that print!!

THANK YOU @Tuvalu for all the wonderful photos and trip report! My very favorite resort......

Tuvalu said:
I'm betting it is one of the suites.

Thank you for following along, @Tinkwings.

Alright, I got to the bottom of it lol. It is only the Deluxe Club Level rooms that have the CB picture. They made it sound as if it’s all of the club level rooms, but it’s not.

@Tinkwings The WL rooms just went through an extensive refurbishment, so they look much different now. The photo I posted shows the new look of the Deluxe Club Level rooms.

Tuvalu · Jul 2, 2021

Captain Barbossa said:
Alright, I got to the bottom of it lol. It is only the Deluxe Club Level rooms that have the CB picture. They made it sound as if it’s all of the club level rooms, but it’s not.

@Tinkwings The WL rooms just went through an extensive refurbishment, so they look much different now. The photo I posted shows the new look of the Deluxe Club Level rooms.

Tinkwings · Jul 2, 2021

Captain Barbossa said:
Alright, I got to the bottom of it lol. It is only the Deluxe Club Level rooms that have the CB picture. They made it sound as if it’s all of the club level rooms, but it’s not.

@Tinkwings The WL rooms just went through an extensive refurbishment, so they look much different now. The photo I posted shows the new look of the Deluxe Club Level rooms.

Oh yes I have been following it for long while, I even started a thread when I first saw something on it, Sept 3, 2020, they did the Club Level FIRST!

But those ones that differ are either the former honeymoon suites or the deluxe suites.....too bad they didn't put that print in all the club level or even the entire refurbed rooms. All that was done in Feb 2019 was the hallway carpet and the new lounge.....covid sure helped to give them time to gut all those rooms!!!! But back to Tuvalu's wonderful trip report!!!

Wilderness Lodge Resort Room Refurbishment 2020 2021

I just have begun to see photos of the refurbished club level rooms at the Wilderness Lodge. I absolutely adored the last refurb, but this new modern take still has a bunch of charm and function. See youtube video below for a tour! :cool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LVFeHyTpW8

forums.wdwmagic.com

Tuvalu · Jul 2, 2021

Day One, con’t

From high heights to the depth of the sea.

Somebody forgot to pull up this queue marker.

It’s ok though, physical distancing in the parks ended well before the mandate ended. :cautious:

Woody was at home.
Someone had to wave on his behalf.

Tuvalu · Jul 3, 2021

Crowds were not as large as we expected for a Saturday afternoon.

The wait for Peter Pan was posted at 40 minutes….reasonable for Pan fans….so we joined the line. The queue no longer extended into Columbia Harbor House.

(By the end of the week the plexiglass was gone from here.)

There was no Tink nor other special effects, but there was plenty of garbage.

We were on board our pirate ship in just 30 minutes and had a fun flight over Neverland.

Tuvalu · Jul 3, 2021

Since we’d had success with a short(ish) Pan queue and wait, we decided to try Haunted Mansion. Was the end of the line at the Riverboat dock like it had been on previous trips?

Happy to report we only had to go as far as the keel boat landing (adjacent to the Mansion.) But boy, was the queue HOT. Note the woman’s shirt.

Maybe it was cooler on the river.

I see air conditioning…..

For those who aren’t wearing MagicBands, there is another way to get your ride photo.

We did not know this until later, but today was the day the pre-show in the stretching room resumed. The entry doors were closed (as they were pre-pandemic) and a host summoned us inside.

Tuvalu · Jul 3, 2021

Playful spooks halted our doombuggy above the banquet hall. I have always wanted to be stopped here and enjoyed the extra minute or two to take it all in.

“I don’t give a **** about this stupid ride.”

(Dude, at least appreciate the air conditioning!)

Eventually our correct photo appeared in MDE. And now I confess I shouldn’t have thrown shade on the guy above. My image was horrendous. Em knew I was trying to find the camera (notice her subtle gesture) and I majorly failed.

(You didn’t think I would actually post the unedited pic, did you?

)

Tuvalu · Jul 3, 2021

We had about ten minutes to wait until our Liberty Tree Tavern ADR. A cool breeze was blowing (bringing in later rain

) and it was a pleasant wait on the porch. I did online check in and was surprised to hear the CMs calling out family names when their tables were ready. (Summoning guests by name had been eliminated during the pandemic.)

LTT has been using the Diamond Horseshoe for additional seating. Woody and I were seated there in August and I thought it was a fun change. I’ve read many complaints from unhappy guests being seated in the saloon rather than the tavern, but the food is the same.

I have dined at LTT four times since my August visit and have yet to be put in the Diamond Horseshoe again, much to my dismay.

Would tonight be the night?

Nope. Betsy Ross room for us.

@dryerlintfan I did request that our green beans not be in the garlic sauce. They were magnificent!

The other standout was the pot roast ~ fork-tender and moist, with a nice dark gravy flavor. The turkey was not it’s usual deliciousness :jawdrop:

so I ate extra pot roast instead. Can’t comment on the pork, as neither Em nor I ate any.

An even bigger disappointment than the turkey was the Ooey Gooey Cake. It was room temperature (not warmed) and chewy, not gooey. The ice cream didn’t even melt. (@riverside if your OGC was this way, I know why you didn’t care for it.)

Oh well, we didn’t need the extra calories anyway.

riverside · Jul 3, 2021

We all know I’m not an ice cream fan so that could be part of it! But, with that being said, I still don’t get the hype that goes along with it. I’m eating there next week though, so I’ll be sure to give it another try!!

Tuvalu · Jul 3, 2021

The park was open for another 90 minutes but Em and I were tired from traveling and opted to head out. There were no fireworks to tempt us into staying longer.

See ya, MK!

I think this couple got off the monorail one stop too early….or one stop too late.

Hello again, WL!

We opened our drapes to find the pool closed due to lightning. Light rain would soon follow. We were glad we left the MK when we did.

Would it rain on our parade tomorrow? Stay tuned.

Tinkwings · Jul 3, 2021

Tuvalu said:
The park was open for another 90 minutes but Em and I were tired from traveling and opted to head out. There were no fireworks to tempt us into staying longer.

See ya, MK!

View attachment 568890

View attachment 568892

I think this couple got off the monorail one stop too early….or one stop too late.

View attachment 568891

Hello again, WL!

View attachment 568900

We opened our drapes to find the pool closed due to lightning. Light rain would soon follow. We were glad we left the MK when we did.

View attachment 568893

Would it rain on our parade tomorrow? Stay tuned.

Awesome lobby shot Tuvalu.....I printed it out for my fridge to enjoy and escape to.....

Looking forward to MORE!!! THANKS!!!!

myhappyplace · Jul 3, 2021

I think if I could choose anywhere to be stopped mid-ride, it would be the same place as you were on HM!

slipperalwaysfits · Jul 3, 2021

Tuvalu said:
Crowds were not as large as we expected for a Saturday afternoon.

AAAAAAaaaawwwwwwww, I'd love this but with fireworks back, there's no way it won't be SLAMMED when we are there, although, thankfully, we will not be in MK on a Sat afternoon!

Tuvalu said:
Happy to report we only had to go as far as the keel boat landing (adjacent to the Mansion.) But boy, was the queue HOT. Note the woman’s shirt.

So I've been trying to prepare for the summer swelter down there and I have a cross body backpack so my whole back won't be sweaty from the backpack....fingers crossed.

Tuvalu said:
An even bigger disappointment than the turkey was the Ooey Gooey Cake. It was room temperature (not warmed) and chewy, not gooey. The ice cream didn’t even melt. (@riverside if your OGC was this way, I know why you didn’t care for it.)

Bummer! So sorry to hear your favorite dessert was not up to it's usual deliciousness!

93boomer · Jul 3, 2021

Tuvalu said:
The park was open for another 90 minutes but Em and I were tired from traveling and opted to head out. There were no fireworks to tempt us into staying longer.

See ya, MK!

View attachment 568890

View attachment 568892

I think this couple got off the monorail one stop too early….or one stop too late.

View attachment 568891

Hello again, WL!

View attachment 568900

We opened our drapes to find the pool closed due to lightning. Light rain would soon follow. We were glad we left the MK when we did.

View attachment 568893

Would it rain on our parade tomorrow? Stay tuned.

Wow can’t believe the crowds. I miss my April crowds that weren’t as bad.

You girls certainly had your share of rain this trip.

ToInfinity · Jul 3, 2021

Tuvalu said:
Hello again, WL!

I bet for sure we were still there eating dinner at Whispering Canyon when this was taken! Our table was literally just out of view. So close!

Tuvalu · Jul 4, 2021

Tinkwings said:
Awesome lobby shot Tuvalu.....I printed it out for my fridge to enjoy and escape to..... Looking forward to MORE!!! THANKS!!!!

Thank you for the compliment. :cat:

Now that I’m home, I’m wishing I’d taken more Lodge pictures. Oh well, there’s always next time…..

ToInfinity said:
I bet for sure we were still there eating dinner at Whispering Canyon when this was taken! Our table was literally just out of view. So close!

Bummer! The time stamp on my picture is 7:40 pm. It would have been fun to say hello!

Tuvalu · Jul 4, 2021

myhappyplace said:
I think if I could choose anywhere to be stopped mid-ride, it would be the same place as you were on HM!

It was amazing (and likely my once-in-a-lifetime experience.)

slipperalwaysfits said:
So I've been trying to prepare for the summer swelter down there and I have a cross body backpack so my whole back won't be sweaty from the backpack....fingers crossed.

Em makes out fine using her sling back, you should too.

93boomer said:
Wow can’t believe the crowds. I miss my April crowds that weren’t as bad.
You girls certainly had your share of rain this trip.

The crowds did not bother us much since wait times were very manageable.
As for rain, I think the Magicians there this past week (@ajrwdwgirl, @coachwnh, @lostpro9het and @imahistorygeek) had it worse than we did.

ajrwdwgirl · Jul 4, 2021

Tuvalu said:
It was amazing (and likely my once-in-a-lifetime experience.)

Em makes out fine using her sling back, you should too.

The crowds did not bother us much since wait times were very manageable.
As for rain, I think the Magicians there this past week (@ajrwdwgirl, @coachwnh, @lostpro9het and @imahistorygeek) had it worse than we did.

It has been our rainiest trip in years. Still fun though!

Tuvalu · Jul 5, 2021

Day Two

Morning dawned cloudy, but a fair-weather day at WDW is always better than a sunny day at home! Em had a couple interviews she needed to conduct so after I breakfast I headed solo to the pool.

But not this pool.

The feature pool does not open until 10 am.

My destination was a bit further on.

Why was the stream bed dry? WDW was not in a drought.

I arrived at the locale I had been dreaming of for months.

Happy to see that the chairs were no longer zip-tied together!

Loungers prepped and ready.

I sat and read, periodically enjoying my view until Em arrived.

amjt660 · Jul 5, 2021

Tuvalu said:
I sat and read, periodically enjoying my view until Em arrived.

Really???

Max

Trip Report A New Hope, A New Day COMPLETED

Captain Barbossa

Well-Known Member

Tuvalu

Tinkwings

Pfizered Fairy

Wilderness Lodge Resort Room Refurbishment 2020 2021

Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Tuvalu

riverside

Well-Known Member

Tuvalu

Tinkwings

Pfizered Fairy

myhappyplace

Crazy Cat Lady

slipperalwaysfits

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93boomer

ToInfinity

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Tuvalu

Tuvalu

ajrwdwgirl

Tuvalu

amjt660

Well-Known Member

Trip Report A New Hope, A New Day *COMPLETED*

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Pfizered Fairy

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Pfizered Fairy

Crazy Cat Lady

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Trip Report A New Hope, A New Day COMPLETED